A taste of Hawaii is coming to Ohio.
Kona Brewing Co., located on the big island of Hawaii, is expanding its distribution early next year into Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri.
“This is a bit of uncharted territory for us but we are genuinely stoked to be bringing ‘Liquid Aloha’ to the many craft beer lovers in our country’s interior,” Kona President Mattson Davis said in a statement.
“We appreciate the love for ohana [family] that Midwesterners have. In Hawaii, we have similar values of family and friendship and we look forward to finally sharing some warmth and a taste of Hawaii with more of our fans, especially during these cold winter months in the Midwest.”
With the expanded distribution, Kona will be available in 35 states. The beer is expected to arrive in Ohio in mid-January.
Kona’s flagship Longboard Island Lager will be available in bottles and on draft year-round. Big Wave Golden Ale, Fire Rock Pale Ale and seasonals beginning in the spring with Koko Brown Ale also will be available.
Kona was started in 1994 by father and son Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. It is now owned by the Craft Brew Alliance, a publicly traded company that was formed in 2008 with the merger of Widmer Brothers Brewing and Redhook Ale Brewery.
New Frog beer
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, 1680-F E. Waterloo Road, will release Frog Hops from Amager — the third beer in its collaboration series with European breweries — Friday and Saturday at the brewery.
Frog Hops from Amager is a hoppy chocolate-wheat imperial stout. The limited-release beer was developed with Amager Bryghus in Denmark.
The brewery will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $8.99 for a 22-ounce bottle.
To watch a video about the collaboration, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4sWtCzOaWI.
Christmas tastings
Acme Fresh Markets will hold Christmas beer tastings from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at its stores at 2630 Bailey Road in Cuyahoga Falls and 3979 Medina Road in Montrose.
Each store will have different beers to sample.
The Cuyahoga Falls store will offer Scaldis Noel, Thirsty Dog Barrel Aged 12 Dogs of Christmas, Southern Tier 2XMAS, Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Hoppin’ Frog Frosted Frog, Southern Tier Old Man Winter, Southern Tier Choklat and Lager Heads Winter Mischief.
The Montrose store will have Thirsty Dog Barrel Aged 12 Dogs of Christmas, Ohio Jingle Bell, Cellar Rats Festivus, Hoppin’ Frog Frosted Frog, Rivertown Death and Southern Tier Krampus.
The events are free to attend, although you pay for the beer you drink. Samples cost 25 cents to $1, depending on the beer. People also will be able to purchase growlers.
Top dog
Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas was selected as the best holiday beer by 60 people participating last week in the “12 Beers of Christmas” tasting at D’Agnese’s Trattoria in Akron.
Troegs Mad Elf finished a close second, and Southern Tier 2XMAS was third.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/the-beer-blog/ or follow him on Twitter @ArmonRick.